Clothes drier



Nov. 22, 1938. w ALTORFER 2,137,376

CLOTHES DRIER Filed Dec. 27, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 22, 1938.

H. W. ALTORFER- CLOTHES DRIER Filed Dec. 27, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov.22, 1938. H. w. ALTORFER 2,137,376

CLOTHES DRIER Filed Dec. 2'7, 193'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 22, 1938. H.w. ALTORFER CLOTHES DRIER Filed Dec. 27, 1957 4 Sheets-$heet 4e/izzyezz%f Q @523; Z (z/zrfef J: .7% p T Patented Nov. 22, 1938vCLOTHES DRIER Henry W. Altorfer, Peoria, Ill.

Application December 27, 1937, Serial No. 181,724

2 Claims.

This invention relates to clothes driers and more particularly to adomestic clothes drier in which the clothes from a centrifugal extractoror wringer are completely dried and ready for the ironing operation.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a mechanical means forcompletely drying and aerating clothes after they have been subjected tothe usual wringing or drying operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanical drier whereinthe clothes content is subjected to forcible air pressure with theresult that the clothes are completely dried and aerated.

Still another object of my invention is in the provision of a drier tobe used in conjunction with the ordinary domestic washing machine,whereby. the clothes from a wringer' or centrifugal extractor may bequickly dried and aerated by forced air draft.

A further object of my invention is in the provision of a mechanicaldomestic clothes drier which continually moves the clothes in the pathof forcible air pressure.

A still further object of my invention is in a mechanical drierstructure wherein a movable perforated cylinder carrying the clothes issubjected constantly to air from a blower or series of blowers to effectquick drying and aerating of the clothes.

Other objects will appear when taken in connection with the annexedspecification and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation with a portion of the forward casingremoved;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation with a portion of the casing removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring specifically to the drawings we find a domestic drier for usein conjunction with the standard washing machine having either a wringeror centrifugal drier attachment. The usual washing and wringing ordrying operation is followed by the operator hanging the damp clothes onthe line and, of course, preferably an outside line. So manycircumstances such as space, weather conditions, temperature and manyothers, preclude this conventional manner of drying the clothes in thesun and air. Further, this conventional operation takes considerabletime before the final ironing operation may be commenced.

Applicant, appreciating that the damp clothes from a wringer or theconventional centrifugal drier must first be completely dried in some Imanner prior to the ironing operation, now provides a mechanicaldomestic drier for quickly and completely drying the clothes, placingthem in the proper condition for the ironing operation. This device is aseparate, compact, power driven ll unit capable of operation inconjunction with the conventional domestic washer. The device isoperable whenever the washing is done, or may we say whenever theironing is done. In any event the damp clothes from the wringer or exutractor may be placed directly in the perforate cylinder and thereafterquickly dried and aerated.

The completely dried clothes are then ready for the ironing operation,whether accomplished with the conventional hand iron or domestic mangle.

A great saving in time is obviously made, and other conditions,including that of weather, of course, have no effect upon applicantsdevice. 26 As a matter of fact, the drying of one batch of clothes maytake place during the washing of the second load.

Applicants drier is housed in a casing ll open at the top as at H forthe insertion of damp 80 clothes in the perforate container l2. Thiscontainer in the present aspect is of the cylinder type supported androtatable on an interiorly disposed air duct l3. A conventionalperforate door I is provided in the cylinder II. The 35 cylinder issupported at either end on the bearings I5 and IS on the outer ends ofthe stationary air duct 13. The framing and support mechanism for theduct i3 is shown at I! and I8.

Below the cylinder are shown three air blowers I9, 20 and 2|respectively. They are all mounted on and driven by the common shaft 22.

These blowers might take many forms, but for convenience they have beenshown as the bladed type which have been found entirely suitable tosupply a large volume of air at high pressure to the clothes in thecylinder. Blower I9 is connected with one end of air duct l3 by theconduit 23. Blower 2| is connected to the other end of air duct l3 byconduit 2! and blower 20 communicates directly with the under side ofthe perforate cylinder l2 through conduit 25.

An electric motor 26 is connected to shaft 22 through belt 21. Means forrotating the cylinder i2 is provided in the pulley and belt drive 28 andconnecting means 29 with the motor 21. The cylinder is rotated slowlyfor best drying results. Means has been provided for heating the highpressure air by placing electrical heating elements 30 within the airduct I3. The incoming high pressure air is initially heated and thusmaterially assists in the drying of the clothes.

The. operation of the drier is quite simple. The damp. clothes areplaced in cylinder l2 through the conventional door. Operation of thecylinder and blower is then started. The perforate cylinder rotatesslowly about the interior perforate air duct and the clothes areconstantly agitated by being carried around in the cylinder. The blowersl9 and 2| now force air initially heated under high pressure through theperforations in the air duct I3. This high pressure air forces theclothes against the interior walls of the cylinder. Blower 20 constantlyforces air against the exterior surface of the perforate cylindcr. Wethus find the clothes subjected to a constant blast of high pressure airwhich soon dries the clothes. The continuous passage of air through theclothes completely aerates them and any lint is blown off. The clothesare removed following the quick drying operation, ready for the ironingoperation which may take place immediately. The dried clothes are softand fluffy and in exactly the same condition that is obtained whenclothes are completely dried by hanging in the open air and in the sun.

An ultraviolet ray lamp 3! is placed in the interior air duct in suchmanner that the drying clothes are constantly subjected to its rays withthe result that the clothes when completely dried are in substantiallythe same condition as if they had been dried out of doors and in thesun.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In a clothes drier, a perforate cylinder, a casing surrounding saidcylinder having a top opening, a tubular shaft extending through saidcasing for supporting the cylinder for rotation and having perforations,in the section interior of the cylinder, blowers for introducing air tothe interior of the cylinder through the tubular shaft, a blower forintroducing air through the casing to the exterior of the cylinder, amotor to drive the blowers and rotate the cylinder, and a movablecabinet enclosing this apparatus as a unit.

2. In a clothes drier, a perforate cylinder, a casing surrounding saidcylinder having a top opening, a tubular shaft extending through saidcasing for supporting the cylinder for rotation and having perforationsin the section interior of the cylinder, blowers for introducing air tothe interior of the cylinder through the tubular shaft, a blower forintroducing air through the casing to the exterior of the cylinder,means for heating the introduced air, means for electrically sterilizingthe clothes while rotating, a movable cabinet enclosing this apparatusas a unit, and a single electric cord for supplying electricity to theunit.

HENRY W. ALTORFER.

